National Planning Frameworks

The purpose of this page is to provide information on the National Planning Frameworks (Frameworks). The Frameworks describe how the whole community works together to achieve the National Preparedness Goal. There is one Framework for each of the five mission areas: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery. The intended audience for the page is individuals, families, communities, the private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, and local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal governments.

National Response Framework Update (Fourth Edition)

The National Response Framework (NRF), first released in 2008, is a guide for how our Nation responds to all types of disasters and emergencies. As part of FEMA’s renewed effort to build a national culture of preparedness, the NRF is being updated to incorporate lessons learned from the unprecedented 2017 hurricane and wildfire season. This update will include the following areas:

Additional emphasis on non-governmental capabilities to include the role of individuals and private sector/industry partners in responding to disasters

A new Emergency Support Function to leverage existing coordination mechanisms between the government and infrastructure owners/operators

Focus on outcomes-based response through the prioritization of the rapid stabilization of life-saving and life sustaining lifelines

The updated NRF will continue to focus on the capabilities necessary to save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human needs during disasters. The NRF will continue to be scalable, flexible and adaptable, using the core capabilities identified in the National Preparedness Goal.

This webpage will be updated periodically with the latest information and opportunities for engagement. If you have any questions or suggestions, please email NRF@fema.dhs.gov.

Please refer to the below documents for additional information:

NRF Update Information Sheet: This information sheet provides a broad overview of the NRF Update including the reasons for the update, the aspects of the NRF that will change, and the aspects of the NRF that will remain the same.

Community Lifelines Information Sheet: This information sheet contains more detailed information on the lifelines construct, the seven lifeline sectors, and the opportunities of lifelines.

About the Frameworks

The National Planning Frameworks, one for each preparedness mission area, describe how the whole community works together to achieve the National Preparedness Goal. The Goal is: “A secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.” The Goal is the cornerstone for the implementation of the National Preparedness System.

The National Planning Frameworks are part of the National Preparedness System. There is one Framework for each of the five preparedness mission areas:

The Frameworks foster a shared understanding of our roles and responsibilities from the firehouse to the White House. They help us understand how we, as a nation, coordinate, share information and work together – which ultimately results in a more secure and resilient nation.

FEMA and its partners released the updated National Planning Frameworks for each mission area: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery on June 16, 2016.

﻿Whole Community Approach

The Frameworks follow a whole community approach to preparedness, which recognizes that everyone can contribute to and benefit from national preparedness efforts. This includes individuals and families (including those with disabilities and others with access and functional needs), businesses, community and faith-based groups, nonprofit organizations and all levels of government.